Tighten deadlines, blur wording

On October 21, 2013, the State Duma Security Committee approved its amendments to the bill adopted in the first reading on the introduction of a new set of anti-terrorism measures.

Let us recall that the bill provided for the introduction of a new article into the Criminal Code. 205.5 (organizing the activities of a terrorist organization and participating in it), according to which the punishment for organizing a terrorist organization should have been from 10 to 15 years in prison. The committee proposed increasing this period to 15-20 years. In addition, according to the bill, after the commission of a terrorist attack, damage from its infliction could be recovered from the person who committed it, his relatives or loved ones (it is not clear who exactly can be included among the latter) from funds received by them no earlier than the commission of the terrorist attack. The Security Committee proposed a different, even more vague formulation - “not before the established fact of the beginning of a person’s participation in terrorist activities.”

Let us remind you that the creators of the bill also propose to supplement the Criminal Code with articles 205.3 (training for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities (the same punishment is provided as for participation in the activities of a terrorist organization), 205.4 (organization of a terrorist community and participation in it).

We fear that all these measures will entail the same abuses as in the case of the application of Art. 282.2, since people are often persecuted for involvement in organizations that are prohibited unlawfully, only with much more severe consequences due to long terms of imprisonment.

Of particular concern is the fate of the followers of the religious-political organization Hizb ut-Tahrir , which was declared terrorist in the absence of evidence of its involvement in terrorist activities. Obviously, in view of possible changes in the Criminal Code, the decision to ban Hizb ut-Tahrir should be urgently reconsidered.

Sources

• Viktor Khamraev, Dmitry Pashinsky. The financial history of terrorists and their families will be studied more closely // Kommersant. 2013. October 21.